"...In the end, people either have excuses or experiences; reasons or results; buts orbrilliance. They either have what they wanted or they have a detailed list of all the rational reasons why not."

~ Anonymous (taken from Matt Erbele's, It Takes Time to Get Good)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

We have a decision!

I want to start with a HUGE thank you for the AMAZINGLY kind and supportive comments to my Ironman post. I am so very, very grateful. It really helped me heal.

I have taken some time to process, pout, contemplate, snivel, examine, and generally piss and moan. One of my biggest fears has been to work really hard at something, give it all I have, and still fail. Well, that happened and I am here to tell you that it SUCKED ASS, but it did not kill me. It is not even close to the worst thing that has ever or could ever happen to me. So time to go forward. I am ready to move on.

With that said I have made a decision regarding my next Ironman attempt.

I have agonized over this. Many of you know I was looking at Redman and Beach to Battleship this year. I think I wanted to "erase" this failure as quickly as possible. Plus I would get to see many friends that will be out there racing, but several things made me decide that those races weren't right for me this year.

1. My family has already made many financial and time sacrifices for me to pursue this goal. My husband does not do triathlon and traveling that distance again so soon would eliminate a vacation we had wanted to take in April. That is really not fair to him.

2. Both races are during the school year and would require me to take time off from school. I am a teacher, I need to fit this into the time I already have off.

3. I have work to do. I am too slow. I am not being self-deprecating. I am being honest.I truly believe that I have the endurance necessary to complete an Ironman, but that is only part of the task, the other part is to be able to do it within the prescribed amount of time. I am too close to the cut offs. If any small mishap occurs or, as we have seen, if there are less than ideal conditions I can not make the time requirement.

I want to go into my next Ironman attempt with a better cushion on those times. (Umm, and a little less cushion on me. More about that later) Of course, I have now chosen a race that has a shorter cut off. The Vineman mid-race cutoffs are all the same, but the overall cut off time is 16 hours. Yikes.

34 comments:

So I must say I had to keep coming back to your Ironman post to read because I was running off somewhere and couldn't finish. Now that I have finally finished it and read this post I must say I am even more proud of you. I was proud of you for all the training you had done for this, and the attempt you made at this. Even though it was a DNF, you are dusting yourself off and getting back up to try again. I know so many people that would just give up (or not even try in the first place). I admire your strength and I think that if you use that strength in your training it will empower you in the event next year. Hope to see you soon! :)

I think your decision is a VERY WISE ONE. I too considered doing another race "on the rebound" but decided it'd be best to wait for pretty much the same reasons (family, timing, and the need for more training & experience). And a lot has changed for me as I'm sure it will for you.

Best of luck with your plans (and don't think this means we won't still meet up someday at a race :-)

Congrats on getting back on the horse! I learned during my first century ride that I am not wanting IM. So, I've taken that off my burner of things to do. I do, however, want to do 1/2IM and can live with that. I had the thought of IM on my list of things to for definitely all the wrong reasons. Kudos for you for getting another race already planned and I know you'll do it-you got the fire inside to do it! Best of luck and thank goodness you found another race so we can read all about the training! Loved every page! ;-)

Great! Keep kicking the asphalt, dirt, water and stomping the peddles. I am with ya on the time limits. I will be running my frist Half Marathon in 13 years soon. It has a time limit. My wife and kids will be there supporting me. Yes, it will be harsh if I get pulled off the course for not keeping up the pace. However, they will have to do just that to keep me from finishing. Your efforts have been great inspirations for me. 13 years of not running has slowed me to the point slugs, snails ... well you get the idea. Thanks for the uplift in your Blog.

I am just catching up and read your race report. You are a rock star!!! I know that it didn't turn out like you had hoped but you fought a good fight and hung in there. Your race report had me laughing and crying. I have no doubt that you will be back to show the IM course who is boss!

I just recently found your blog. Your IMCd'A race recap was inspiring to read. I'm signed up for my first IM this November and your post made me decide to take your approach - I'm not leaving the course until they make me! Yesterday I was reading Friel's Going Long book, the mental training chapter, and it pointed out that many of us need to serve an apprenticeship period in triathlon. Maybe you're just finishing up your apprenticeship this year and everything will work perfectly next year. Good luck at Vineman next year! They have an Aquabike option too, can still sign up for this year if you live nearby.

So that you know Stacey...as I have sat and pissed and moaned about my various current injuries, and that despite that I know that a tri is in my future...in part because I read your blog and am completely inspired by your journey. Thanks for not giving up. (a selfish thanks!)

i am glad you are all 'healed'! (or at least, feeling 'ok' with yourself and everything). i'm glad you are not rushing into another one for all of the reasons you came to as well - especially to just avoid rushing in general.

i have no doubts that you are an ironman and now you have more tips and tricks to use in your next round of training. go get 'em :)

Yeah-I knew you would be back out there trying again!! And I think it's a good choice-you must take a vacation with hubby and you need time to sort everything out and get your plan working again!!! you can do it!!

Oh yay! Of course I'm sorry not to get to see you this Fall, but it makes total sense to pick the race that meets ALL of your needs. You sound so balanced and excited at the same time. I've heard Vineman is awesome. Is it the same course as Barb's race? And you'll have so much support with it being so close. I may have to figure out how to come out and cheer you on. Best of luck with the speed training!!

Hmmm, Vineman 2010. That is actually a nice swim. No current to speak of, you can only get a little ways off course and in many places you can actually stand up. I had fun there and I'm sure you will too.

Great, logical decision. The big thing, I think, is that the course is local enough so that you can drive up and run/ride the whole damn distance several times. Previewing the course makes a huge difference in performance. The support will be great too, and when I checked times from last year i saw several women that had finished after the offical 16 hours, and yet still had a listed official time. Yipeee!

this looks like an awesome choice!! I didnt realize there was one in cali.... I might have to round up a crew to cheer this one on next year :) you are going to do awesome I know it... keep up that training and I cant wait to follow along :)

About Me

Running the the 6.2 mile run of my first triathlon, I thought I was surely going to die. I am a not an athlete. What the hell am I doing out here? These are crazy 'fit people'. I am not one of them. I am the girl that drives 2 blocks to the convenience store to get a Hostess pie.
Just as I thought, "Screw this! I need to walk again" I looked into the crowd and saw a girl holding a sign that said 'Run Bitch Run' and I laughed. I was running AND laughing. Hmmm, maybe these are my people after all. And so I did. I ran, bitch, I ran.